Windmill



April 2s, 1925. 1,.=,3.5,517

C. ANDREINI WINDMILL Filed May 24, 1923 s sheetssneet 1 vAlm'ril 2s, 1925.1

c. AANDREW WINDMILL Filed' May 24. 1923y s` sheetssheet 5 il (l latented pr.. 2id, 1925.

CORRAD ANDR'EINI, O'F GROSSETO, ITALY.

WINDMILL.

Application reed May 24, 1923. serial No. 641,218.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it lrnown that I, Cormano ANDRnlNi, mechanical engineer, a subject of the King of italy,v and residing at Grosseto, Italy, whose post office address is No. 2 Viale della Stazione, Grosseto, ltaly, have invented certain new` and useful improvements in 1Windmills, of which the following is a specifica` tion. s

This invention which relates to windmills, has for its principal objectto provide an automatically governedwindmill, the speed of which will be maintained between certain limits automatically regardless of the velocity of the wind. This is brought about by the use of a` regulating rudder which maintains the windwheel positioned in the path of the wind according to the speed developed by the wheel. When the wind isl blowing lightly, the regulating rudder main1 tains the plane of the wind-wheel at right angles to the directionin which the wind is blowing, but when the `wind is blowing strongly, the regulating rudder holds the wind-wheel so that it will not receive the full force of the wind, thereby preventing it from beingdriven by the wind at an eX- cessive speed. s

'In carrying out the object of thevinven tion, the aXisof the wind-wheel is mounted at one side of the vertical axis of the head upon which the wheel is mounted, so that when the wheel is brought into` the wind by the steering rudder there will be a tendency for the `head to rotate about its vertical axis. This, however, is neutralized `bythe regulating rudder which is carried by the head and is disposed on the opposite side of the vertical axis of the latter from the hori Zontal axis of the wheel. The regulating rudderis adjustably mounted and its position is controlled by a governor associated with the wind-wheel. Thus, wheneverthe `wind-wheel starts to rotate at an excessive speed, the governor will change the position of the regulating rudder, causing the position of the head to be shifted with reference to the ldirection of the wind so that'the wind-wheel will not receive the fullforce of the wind. As soon as the velocity of the wind decreases, the governor will change the `adjustment of the regulating rudder, and

showing thus again bring the wind-wheel directly into the wind so that its speed will not be materially lessened.

A more complete understanding of the invention will be understood by reference to thel following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

p ln these drawings Fig. l is aside elevation of a windmill constauctedv in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of a portion of the windmill; y i

` Fig. 3 is a plan view of a `portion of the windmill, showing certain parts of the gear box removed; i

F ig. t i-s an enlarged view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section of a `portionof the hub of the wind-wheel,

particularly the governor means controlled by the governor for adjusting the position of the regulating rudder; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view of a portion of the windmill tower and the head, -showing particularly the arrangement of the cables for the transmission of power.

lin the illustrated embodiment vof the invention, the numeral l designates a plurality of angle iron members which are arranged to form the supporting tower of the windmill. rFliese members have their upper ex` tremities secured by bolts or screws 5 to a connecting member 4:, while they are coupled together atintermediate points by tie-rods 6 and 7 and by a plate 8.

Supported by the connecting member Ll, the tie-rods 6 and 7, and the plate 8 is an upright column or tube 2. The upper end of this tube 2 extends above the top of the `connecting member 4 and forms a spindle upon which the head la of the windmill is rotatably mounted. Itwll thus be seen that the entire head carrying the wi1id-\vheel, the steering rudder and the regulating rudder, to be hereinafter described, is mounted to rotate about the vertical axis formed by the upper end of the upright column 2.

The above-mentioned head 14; is in the formof a casing which is provided with a bearing 15 for the shaft or spindle 16 of and the wind-wheel. This shaft 16 is of course positioned horizontally and is disposed at one side of the vertical axis about which the head 1st turns, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. One end of the shaft projects into the inside of the casing 1st where it is provided with pinions 17 engaging gears 18 which are loosely mounted upon their spindles 19. Connecting rods 37 connect the gears 18 'from eccentric points to a block 29 which is slidably mounted in the head 1li. Tn order to reduce the friction, this block 29 is provided with rollers bearine against guide posts 28 'xedly carried by the head. The posts 28 and rollers 38 co-operate to permit the block 29 to have a vertical sliding movement with respect to the head 14.

The block 29 carries a depending` tube 67 which extends through the column 2 and is pro vided at its lower end vwith projections G8, which extend through slots 10 in opposite walls of the tube 2. To these projections 68 are fastened cables 71. These cables 71 pass around pulleys 7 il and 7 4; mounted upon the tower at the vicinity of the tie-rods 6 and 7. Two of the cables 71 are provided and these are coupled together at their ends by coupling members 7 5 and 75. To the coupling members and 75, rods 76 and 75 respectively are coupled. These rods ezitend downwardly to the bottom oi the tower and are intended'to be operatively connected to the pump or device which the windmill is designed to operate.

The wheel of the windmill which is iixed upon the shaft 1G has a plurality of fixed blades or vanes 78. These blades oi' course are pitchedr so that when the wheel is brought into the wind, a rotary movement will be imparted thereto.

Extending laterally from the head 14 across the shaft 16 and the` shaft 1'?) which crosses the vertical axis ont the head, is a shaft 31. This shaft S1 is mounted at one end in the head ifi and at the other end in a sleeve carried bv an arm 28 so as to be capable oi? oscillati it its outer end, it

ari-ies the regula'L rudder 24;. lt is to be noted that the gulating rudder is disposed on the opposite side ofthe vertical axis of the head 14: 'trointhe side on which the axis or Jihe wind-wheel is located. Thus, when the wind-wheel is brought into the wind, the wind will tend to act upon the blades o't the windwheel in such a manner as to rotate 'the head 14 about its airis. This, however, will not actually taire place, as the wind et the same time is exerting pressure upon the regulating rudder 2d, and suoli pressure acting in the opposite direction with reference to the axis of the head will, as hereinafter eiplained, counter-balance the .Essuie et the wind upon the wind-wheel.

Associated with the hub of the windwheel is a pair ot swinging governor members 7 9. These are carried by arms which are pivoted to spindles on opposite sides of the shaft 16. As the wheel rotates, the governors 9 move outwardly by centrifugal action against the action oi their springs `88. Upon one of the spindles 80, there is iiXed a quadrant 83, meshing with a rack 842 which is slidable about the hub ot' the wind-wheel. Thus, as the governors 79 swing outwardly, the quandrant 83 will be turned and the rack 84 will be slid. The 1ack 8d bears at one end .against a member ifi which is slidably mounted along thehub or the wheel. This member L14; is coupled-at 4-2'5 to a link 42, which in turn is coupled to an arm L1 extending laterally from one end l) ofthe shalt 31. lt will therefore be seen that when the rack 8i is slid or moved longitudinally by the governor 79, the shaiit 31 will be turned, thereby adjusting the position of the regulating rudder 2li.

ln order to hold or maintain the windwheel and liegulating rudder 2-1- into the wind, the head 14 also carries a steering rudder 25. This is mounted at the outer end of angle iron arms Lil) which have their inner ends hingedly connected to the casing lll. Thus, the steering rudder 25 may be swung from its operative position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 at right angles to the plane of thefwind-wheel, to an inoperative position parallel to the plane et the wind-wheel. The means for moving the steering' rudder 25 from inoperative 'to operative positions consists of a cable which extends through the tube 67 over the pulley 57, and then down under a pulley 5G and across the casing 14 to a pulley 51 mounted in a boit-like portion 2G of the casing. To thev shaft of this pulley 51, there is a4 laterally extending arm `to the Ytree end oi which is fastened one end ot a spring Till. The other end ot this spring is connected to one oi the arms il!) upon which the steer*- ing rudder 25 is secured. Thus, when the cable 59 is pulled downwardly at the bottom ot' the tower, the arm will be swung to the position shown in Fig. plait-ingI the spring under sunpicient tension to nieve the steering rudder from inoperative position to operative position. lie/tore 'the steer ing rudder will move from inoperative position, the latrh (52 carried byone oi: the arms 49 and normally engagingy the detent (if-Li, must be released. This latrh is pivotally mounted between its ends to one ot the arms 49 and one end is connected to one extremity of the cable '(36, the other extremity or the latter being connected to the arm 52, so that initial movement of the -arm 52 out oi normal position pulls upon 'the cable 66 and releases the latch 62.

It is to be understood that the size and position of the Wind-Wheel and the regulating rudder 24 Will'be such that the regulating rudder will hold the Wheel at right angles to the direction ot' the Wind while the Wheel is being rotated by the Wind at a speed not above an excessive speed. By

`the use of certain well known equations,

which are not deemed necessary to herein set forth, the parts oi' the .machine may be given the proper size and position by those skilled in the art. y y

Assuming that the Wind-Wheel is rotating not above an excessive speed at right angles to the direction ol the Wind, and that the velocity of the Wind increases, then the speed of the Wind-Wheel will increase. When its speed increases, the governor members 79 Will move `further outwardly by centrifugal force, and inasmuch as the regulating rudder 2d is operatively positioned with the governor members 79, the angle ot the regulating rudder 2a With respect to the direction ofthe Wind Will be changed. The regulating rudder 24 Willbe more effectively brought into the Wind, and this will result in a movement of the head lll about its vertical axis. This movement out `the head le Will of course move theWind-Wheel out ot right angles to the direction of the wind, so that it Will not receive the full torce of the Wind. A reduction in the speed of the vvindvvheel will therefore result. This operation will be repeated every time the Wind-Wheel begins to rotate at an excessive speed. OI course, When the Wind dies down, the regulating rudder Will resume its normal position and cause the Windwheel to resume its `normal position and permit the latter to operate atright angles to the direction of the Wind, so long as its speed does not become excessive. v

Inasmuch as the steering rudder 25 is coupled tothe arm 52 by means of a coiled spring 53, lthe steering rudderv Will trail y directly behind the Wind-Wheel and keep parallel to the direction of the Wind, even vvhile the regulating rudder 24- is holding the vvindwheel at an angle other than a right angle to the direction of the Wind.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, use and advantages of the invention Will be readily understood.

It is obvious that certain changes may be made Without departing from the spirit and principle of the invention and Without sacrilicing any of the advantages thereof, so that it is to be understood that this may be done Within the meaning and scope o'll the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v l. In a Windmill, the combination of a supporting member, a head mounted on said member to rotate about a vertical axisfa Wind-wheel mounted on said head to rotate about a horizontal axis, the axis of said Wind-Wheel being disposed-on one side ot the vertical axis of said head, a regulating rudder carried by said head on the oppositeside of the vertical axis 'of the latter from the axis of said Wind-Wheehsaid rudder being adjustable to lvary the angle between the plane of the wind-wheel and the direction of the wind, means controlled by the speed of the Wind-Wheel for varying the adjustment ot' said rudder according to the speed of the Wind-Wheel, anda steering rudder carried by said head to hold said Wind- Wheel and said regulating rudder into the Wind.

i2'. In a windmill, the combination ot a supporting member, a head mounted on said member to rotate about a vertical axis, a vvind-vvheel mounted on said head to rotate about a horizontal axis, the axis of said Windswheel being disposed on one side oli' the vertical axis of said head, a regulating rudder carried by said head on the opposite side of the vertical axis of the latter from the axis ot said Wind-Wheel, said rudder being adjustableto vary the angle between the plane ot the Wind-Wheel and the direction oi" the Wind, a governor carried by the Wind-Wheel, means controlled by said governor for adjusting said regulating rudder,`

and a steering rudder carried by said head to hold said Wind-Wheel and said regulating rudder into the Wind.

'In a Windmill, the combination of a supporting member, a head mounted on said memberto rotate about a vertical axis, a

Wind-Wheel mounted on said head to rotate about a horizontalaxis, the axis of said wind-Wheel being disposed on one side of the vertical axis of said head, a regulating rudder carried by said-head on the opposite side or the vertical axis of the latter from the axis oi said Wind-Wheel, said rudder being rotatable about a horizontal axis disposed at right angles to the horizontal axis of said Wind-wheel, means controlled bythe speed oit the Windy/'heel for adjusting the position of said rudder about its axis according to the speed of the Wind-Wheel, and a steer- `rudder carried by` said head on the opposite side orl the vertical axis of the latter from the axis of said Windwvheel, said rudder being mounted to rotate about an axis `disposed atriglit angles to the horizontal axis In testimony whereof I have hereunto ol said wind-wheel, Aa4 rack vslidmlol along sig-,ned inynzune in the presence of two -Witthe huh of said Wind-Wheel, a centrifugal nsses: governor Carried by said Wind-wheel, a seg'- 5 nient .controlled by said governor and en- CORRADO ANDREINI.

gagging Said rack, connections vbetween vsaid reel; and said rudder, and ,a steering rudc'ler l/Vtnesses: carried by said herd to hold said Wind G. B. ZAUARDO, Wheel land said regulating' rudder into the ZEE CAMILLE PAREON.

y10 Wind. 

